Your Essential Guide to Perge!

Magnificent rock columns slice the sky above ancient city streets where Roman chariots thundered years ago through Perge, an elegant city constructed in 1209 BC. Time stands still in these UNESCO-listed remains, where great theaters and huge stadiums once rang out with applause from 12,000. The city's architectural legacy unites Lycian cleverness, Greek loveliness, and Roman technical expertise - best evident today in its perfectly conserved colonnaded streets and sophisticated water pipes.

15 kilometers inland from Antalya, Perge existed in two golden eras. The Hellenistic era first set its destiny, and then an age of unparalleled prosperity under Roman domination. Modern footsteps now tread along old paths through magnificent marketplaces and advanced bathhouses along the same paths that generations of human beings built their lives over three millennia ago.

Let Perge's stones speak for themselves as this book reveals hidden vistas, ideal times to visit, and beloved local secrets. Between these pages, the keys are kept to releasing the city's archaeological treasures into your individual historical experience, making every instant spent among these eternal ruins your own.
 

What Makes Perge Special

Sacred steps echo on Perge's hallowed ground, where ancient believers thronged at the altar of Artemis. Great empires - Hittites, Persians, Romans, and Byzantines - left their mark here, though the Roman and Byzantine periods witnessed the city's greatest splendor.

Perge left the world Apollonius, a mathematician of unblemished brilliance whose intellectual powers rival Archimedes himself. His heritage is found in the mathematical words he invented - ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola. He was known by his contemporaries as "the great geometer," joining the ranks of history's greatest intellects.

Aksu River waters nourished Perge with wealth, transforming this ancient colony into a prosperous commercial giant. But outside the sphere of commerce, religious significance befell these stones when St. Paul selected Perge city as the site of his very first sermon in 46 A.D., cementing Perge forever as a cornerstone of early Christianity.

Architectural Highlights

Eminently skilled buildings document Perge's history in stone and sculpture:

• Twin circular towers guard the Hellenistic Gates, their weathered surfaces still bearing intricate carvings and ancient inscriptions
• Sunlight streams through the south-facing windows of the Roman Baths, where citizens once gathered for daily rituals
• Crystal waters still dance down the central water channel, a remarkable feat of engineering that brought life to this semi-arid landscape
• Two imposing colonnaded streets meet in the center of the city, a testament to the ingenuity of ancient urban planners.

Perge bloomed most beautifully in 120-122 AD when the visionary Plancia Magna commissioned magnificent renovations. Her crowning glory - the restoration of the inner horseshoe-shaped courtyard - helped Perge become Anatolia's architectural jewel.

Discovering Perge Like a Local

Secrets of Perge revealed to the eyes of wise visionaries. Dawn breaks radiance cloaks ancient stones in gold, and dusk brings soft breezes and fewer feet. Veterans prefer these morning and evening times, bypassing masses as well as the baking Mediterranean sun.

The Roman Theatre

The Roman Theatre of Perge is a magnificent structure, reflecting the splendor of ancient Roman architecture. It had a seating capacity of around 14,000 and had previously been the venue for a series of shows and events. The intact stage and seating of the well-maintained theatre give visitors a glimpse of the entertainment culture in ancient Perge. Its tiered seating provides an unobstructed view of the stage, and the acoustics of the theatre continue to amaze visitors who are fortunate enough to witness it.

The Stadium

The Perge Stadium is another impressive wonder of the ancient city. Employed for sports events and public games, the stadium provided sufficient space to seat thousands of spectators. The well-preserved building of the stadium with tiered seating testifies to the strong emphasis placed by the Romans on sport and public recreation. It's a worthwhile location for visitors interested in studying the recreational lifestyle of the olden days at Perge.

The Colonnaded Street

The Colonnaded Street in Perge is a stunning example of Roman urban design, lined with massive pillars that once supported a crowded avenue. This wide, marble street was the city's main street, connecting important landmarks and serving as the center of commerce and society. Traveling down the street today, tourists can imagine the bustling life previously experienced within the city, with its shops, tourists, and traders moving through the extensive colonnades.

Lesser-known Paths

Weathered streets whisper in aged wheel ruts of old carts, etched deep by countless Roman wagons. These early tracks guide modern footsteps along the city's old arteries, each groove a testament to vibrant life.

Hidden Sites

Perge's Nymphaeum protects the archaeological landscape beneath. Here, travelers witness history emerge from the earth as archaeologists labor tediously to unearth fresh secrets. Secrets lie buried under these earths - much of ancient Perge patiently waits, hidden beneath centuries of silence.

Best Photo Spots

Ideal frames of ancient stones encompass images everywhere in Perge:

• Colonnaded Street stretches 20 meters long, where sunlight weaves among renovated columns
• Within the Roman Theater, carved reliefs of Dionysus dance eternally, waiting for the perfect shot
• The massive Stadium looms over the landscape, its 234-by-34-meter space offering panoramic views over Asia Minor's largest structure

Golden light bathes Perge's marble streets in otherworldly colors. Dawn and dusk transform drab stones into breathtaking vistas. Note how columns strategically placed cast their shadows, placed by archaeologists with precision to restore the city to its former glory.
 

Practical Tips for Your Visit

Ancient pathways welcome modern visitors with thoughtful amenities. Daily gates open from 8:30 AM to 7 PM during summer months, shifting to 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM through winter. Müzekart holders and those carrying 7-day Mediterranean Passes step through these ancient gates freely.

Where to Rest and Refresh

Mediterranean hospitality greets travelers at the entrance café, offering cooling drinks, light meals, and sweet treats. Beyond these welcoming doors, the ancient city holds no modern refreshments. Wise travelers carry water flasks - Perge's stones offer little shelter from the sun's gaze.
Comfort stations stand ready at two points:

• Just beyond the entrance gates
• Beside the parking grounds

Combining Perge With Other Sites

Ancient routes welcome modern travelers with thoughtful amenities. Daily gates are open 8:30 AM - 7 PM in summer months, adapting to 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM in winter. Müzekart holders and people holding 7-day Mediterranean Passes walk through these ancient gates free of charge.

Where to Rest and Relax

Mediterranean hospitality greets guests at the entrance café, where refreshing drinks, snacks, and pastries are waiting. Beyond these warm doors, Perge has no contemporary beverages. Sensible visitors carry water containers - Perge's rocks yield little shade for the sun's gaze.
Convenience stations can be found in two places:

• Outside the entrance gates
• At the side of the car grounds

Perge Combined With Other Destinations

Ancient visitors were familiar with the wisdom of linking a series of sacred sites. Modern-day pilgrims walk in their footsteps, discovering how Perge's loveliness is multiplied when interspersed with neighboring wonders. Just 30 kilometers distant towers the stunning Aspendos Theater, Asia Minor's finest preserved ancient theater. 

Nearby Attractions 

Mediterranean waves whisper secrets to the ancient stones of Side, 60 kilometers outside Perge. Marble pillars pierce cerulean skies here and Apollo's temple watches over waters once carrying Roman ships. Each weathered stone tells stories against the endless blue sky.

Multi-site Tour Options

History's gems emerge through meticulously planned excursions:

• Perge-Aspendos Route: Three hours reveal two worlds of antiquity
• Perge-Side-Aspendos Circuit: Dawn-to-dusk discoveries along coastal routes
• Waterfall Extension: Nature's power at Manavgat or Kurşunlu cascades

Time Management Tips

Morning sun most reveals Perge's secrets. Seasoned travelers then go to Aspendos, where sixty minutes uncover theatrical grandeur.

Local Food Stops

Ages past flavors linger at Meshur Aksu Simsek Kofte Piyaz, steps from ancient stones. Grills at Anadolu Park Restaurant come alive between ruins, sheltering history-weary travelers.

Sea breezes bring scents from Antalya's kitchen along the sea, where ancient recipes meet fresh catches. Each dish is a story of Mediterranean traditions and rich soils, infused with local olive oils and fresh herbs from the garden.

Three millennia breathe through Perge's stones, each column and courtyard resonating with tales of human greatness. Mathematical genius courses from Apollonius's initial calculations and early Christian prayers even seem to reverberate in sacred crevices. These ruins do not speak of decline but of triumph - human creativity etched in limestone and marble.

Sunrise and sunset tint Perge's stones in colors that belie their deepest mysteries. Broad-minded visitors who take these golden hours find loneliness in colonnaded roads and ancient theaters. There, water still dances through channels that quenched the thirst of a Roman city, and cameras capture shadows that have fallen in the same manner for centuries.

Ancient Pamphylia calls beyond Perge's walls. Aspendos's perfect theater and Side's sun-blessed temples wait, and local tables serve tastes spanning millennia. New trails now call to all who want to feel history, walking on their own or wheeling along accessibility-designed paths through time.

Perge continues to be ageless, yet changing. Every careful excavation reveals additional pages from its past, and conservation ensures that future generations will walk upon these same revered lands. In this place where the past intersects with the future, every stop contributes its page to a never-ending chapter of history.

FAQs

Q1. What is the ancient city next to Antalya?
The ancient city next to Antalya is Perge, which is just about 15 kilometers away from the modern city, offering a glimpse into Turkey’s rich Roman past.

Q2. When was Perge built?
Perge's origins date back to around the 3rd millennium BCE during the early Bronze Age, though it rose to prominence during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, particularly around the 2nd century BCE.

Q3. Where is Perge ancient city?
Perge is located in the Aksu district of Antalya province, Turkey. It sits near the Mediterranean coast, nestled in the fertile plains of the region, not far from the famous beaches of Antalya.

Q4. What makes Perge special?
Perge is special for its well-preserved ruins, including an impressive Roman theater and stadium, making it one of the best examples of Roman urban planning. Its ancient colonnaded streets and grand gates highlight the city’s historical significance as a major Roman hub.